Relative calm in four Western counties after Tuesday's standoff among local leaders

Budalang'i MP Raphael Wanjala. [Nathan Ochunge, Standard]

Residents of Bungoma, Vihiga, Kakamega and Busia counties went about their activities uninterrupted on Thursday.

After a standoff at Busia One-Stop-Border Post on Tuesday evening, there was relative calm at the border town on Thursday with police on standby to quell protests.

A truck impounded earlier at the border point ferrying an unknown consignment was cleared late evening on Tuesday, according to a section of customs officials reluctant to divulge further details.

Residents, led by Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala had earlier demanded contents of a container on the truck made public following rumours it could be ferrying deadly weapons into the country.

Mr Wanjala said the truck had a Ugandan registration number with a suspect consignment. Until around 7.30pm on Tuesday, the said truck was still detained at the customs yard.

Busia County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto was reluctant to divulge contents of the consignment on transit only indicating that police were investigating the MP’s claims.

He said they had contained protests in Busia town.

“We have police everywhere and they are vigil to ensure no chaos, violence, and destruction of property will occur,” he said. In Webuye, police barred former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa from addressing supporters at Webuye flyover and was later escorted to Trans Nzoia County.

He had earlier addressed supporters in Khamoto area near Webuye town where he accused President William Ruto of denying Kenyans the right to demonstrate.

“Ruto cannot purport that he has the power to donate to us when article 37 of the Constitution allows Kenyans to demonstrate freely, we will not tire in our guest to put the government in check,” he said.

In Kakamega town, UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala warned Azimio la Umoja leaders that they will take personal responsibility for the outcome of the anti-government protests.

He accused Raila Odinga, ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya and Wamalwa among other Azimio bigwigs of advancing his political interests at the expense of Kenyans struggling to put food on the table.

“The cost of living has skyrocketed and as the government is trying to find a solution to it, we don’t want to witness incidents of goons destroying property and hampering traders from doing their business,” said Malala.

In Vihiga, a handful of boda boda riders staged demonstrations at Luanda town but calm was witnessed in other major towns.

[Nathan Ochunge, Benard Lusigi, Mary Imenza and Brian Kisanji]